As far as I know I am the first one to try 3D printing. Usually model builders use resin. In some cases CNC.

I've had one set of wheels printed in Alumide but the surface wasn't smooth enough (see photo). Just ordered some wheels (2,9 cm) in your white, strong & flexible PA 2200, Selective-Laser-Sintered. Hopefully that will give a better result.

I was tempted to go for the Frosted Ultra Detailed Acrylic Plastic. Too expensive I'm afraid.

Resin is typical for final parts, for cost and finish reasons, don't discard it so fast. Original parts sometimes start as 3D print (or CNC, brother of 3D print), but final ones are resin copies. You could print only one (to save money, as hollow as possible) wheel hub, retouch it, make molds and cast as many as you need. This Corvette guy seems to do exactly that. Pro companies have been doing it even for longer, they just stood silent about the secret sauce (Original CAD files from Ferrari? Woah!).

You will have to smooth WSF like Alumide, they are pretty much the same thing just different dust loaded in the machine. So back to resin casting from 3D printed molds, maybe UD to reduce retouch time. Take a look at old posts in post process subforum.

Nice to see someone with the exact same interrest and idea.
I've looked at your website and the details on your models are fantastic!
I'm mostly rebuilding Ferrari's in 1:18. Up till now, I've had to use avalable parts, or make things by hand. You've probably done it the same way.
I've also ordered a set of wheels. They're for my Ferrari 275 GTB in 1:18 scale. I hope they turn out right. If they do, this would make a lot more things posible. Next thing on my list is a DeDion rearaxle to replace the live axle on my 250 Testa Rossa. Some pictures!

Thanks!
My wheels should arrive this week. I'll post some pictures when I get them. I'm also thinking of having rearviewmirrors printed. There is a constant need for those. But that would probably need to be done in "white detail" to get a smoother finish.
What 3D program do you use? With the AutoCAD program I use, it's very hard to get smooth flowing lines, other than circles or ellipses, where I want them.

I'm pretty pleased wih the result. The surface is a little rough, but for wheels or other components like engines or axle's I's good enough. I think it also helps that the curve in the centre of my wheels is quitte shallow. I painted the wheels with a metalic paint. This, in combination with the rough surface, gives a very "sparkly" effect. Maybe a flat gray color is beter.
Oh, and I blundered with the design. There should be 10 holes in the wheel. I've got 12. I'll live with it, for the time being. If I dont like it, I'll fit them to an Alfa GTA.
I think I could scrape of some more material of the wheel. I made the centre quitte thick to make it strong on this first set. It saves money, but it's also a nice design challange to get a strong wheel, with the least amount of material.

First thing I want to do now, is get my DeDion axle printed, but I need to do some more work on the drawing.

It's been a while, but last friday I ordered my second shapeways product. I was working on a DeDion Axle for a Ferrari 250TR. But the Hotwheels is quitte a crude model, so I decided to do the whole chassis.

This first chassis has a live rear axle. It's the simplest version of the TR-chassis. If this one turns out right, I'll also order a TR58-chassis (with the DeDion) and then its quitte easy to adapt the drawing for a TR59, TR59/60, and a TRi60. They're all a little different, but basicly the same.